A radioactive substance has turned up in the groundwater of the Palisades nuclear plant in Covert Township, prompting plant officials to file a report with the U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission, and several local government agencies. Full story »

ALLEGAN TOWNSHIP -- The Allegan County Road Commission plans to rework 34th Street in Allegan Township after agreeing with the township that the road needs repair. The stretch between Babylon Road and 121st Street was rebuilt in 2002 and began cracking within about two years. The township had some of the road resurfaced, but the problem continued. Last year the... Full story »

ALLEGAN -- An Allegan County commissioner has demanded an apology from a fellow commissioner who he said told "lies" told about him. He didn't get the apology. Commissioner Fritz Spreitzer Thursday, Jan. 24, told Allegan County commissioners that another commissioner had left a voice mail with an unnamed township official saying Spreitzer had told lies and asking the official... Full story »

ALLEGAN -- The Allegan City Council is apparently mostly happy with the meeting times of its various commissions. Only one was changed, and that was by a half-hour. The council has adopted its schedule of meetings for 2008. Its meetings will usually be at 7:30 p.m. on the second and fourth Mondays of each month. The council meets in the... Full story »

ALLEGAN -- The Allegan City Council on Monday approved engineering for what Mayor Rick Day called a "better, safer, cleaner way" to treat sewage for bacteria. The council approved a $12,500 contract with Grand Rapids-based Prein and Newhof to design an ultraviolet-disinfection system for the wastewater-treatment plant. "It uses UV light for disinfection instead of chlorine," plant Supervisor Doug Swearis... Full story »

ALLEGAN -- Allegan city voters may be asked to decide whether to allocate money for parks improvements, including adding a skate park. "We have a concept of going to the public potentially in August," Allegan City Council member David Williams said at the council's Jan. 28 meeting. Williams was referring to the Allegan Parks Commission members. He briefly outlined proposals... Full story »

BLOOMINGDALE -- Already unhappy with the Bloomingdale Board of Education's decision to purchase property in the renaissance zone, the Bloomingdale Village Council will have its attorney determine whether the proposed school-bus garage can be taxed. Property owned by schools is usually tax-exempt, but village trustees wonder if some of the proposed garage's operations wouldn't classify it as a commercial venture.... Full story »

ALLEGAN -- The city of Allegan will be getting a grant to fix up rental properties downtown. That's according to Assistant City Manager David Sperry, who was designated by the Allegan City Council on Jan. 28 as the program's certifying officer in preparation for receiving funds for the Downtown Retail Rehabilitation Program. Sperry said the money, which is to come... Full story »

KEELER TOWNSHIP -- Keeler Township's sheriff's deputy will be carrying a defibrillator to help start stopped hearts. It's one of two such machines that the Keeler Township Board of Trustees purchased recently for $1,300 apiece. "We're going to put one of them in our sheriff department car that's out in the township for 40 hours a week," Township Supervisor William... Full story »

LAWRENCE -- If this season follows the usual pattern, the coldest part of winter is on its way. The Van Buren Road Commission is offering several safety precautions motorists. Most of it is just common sense, according to road commission Secretary-Accountant Gregory Pardike. "We've seen the news reports out there on I-80 in Iowa and Nebraska where occasionally a major... Full story »

ALLEGAN TOWNSHIP -- Allegan Township has decided to join with the city of Allegan in an attempt to provide a beer and wine license for the Sunset Lanes bowling alley. Township Supervisor Steve Schulz said the bowling alley wants a beer and wine license, but the city, where the bowling alley is located, has no more. "The township has one... Full story »

ALLEGAN -- The Allegan County Board of Commissioners planned to hold a public hearing today about a proposed ordinance that would ban the use of lawn fertilizer containing phosphorus. Based on a measure that took effect Jan. 1 in neighboring Ottawa County, the ordinance is intended to prevent harm to lakes and streams by fertilizer runoff from lawns. It is... Full story »

ALLEGAN -- Established lawns will have to get by, but new turf would still be allowed to get a kick-start of phosphorus fertilizer under a new ordinance that bans most uses of the popular grass booster. After a public hearing Feb. 14, the Allegan County Board of Commissioners adopted an ordinance forbidding the use of phosphorus lawn fertilizer on residential... Full story »

ALLEGAN -- Established lawns will have to get by, but new turf would still be allowed to get a kick-start of phosphorus fertilizer under a new ordinance that bans most uses of the popular grass booster. After a public hearing Feb. 14, the Allegan County Board of Commissioners adopted an ordinance forbidding the use of phosphorus lawn fertilizer on residential... Full story »

LAWTON -- The Lawton Village Council plans to use some of its savings to get a lot of projects done during the coming fiscal year. The council on Feb. 12 set its budget hearing for 7 p.m. Feb. 28 at the Village Hall. Clerk Andreia Gailhouse said the proposed general-fund budget, set to begin March 1, expects revenues of $859,200... Full story »